Comments by Merganser

“It is obvious to us that the anti-stigma rhetoric of the mental health conversation is simply enabling more diagnoses of disorders which are not there.” Yes! I have heard this from CEO’s of health authorities, that they’re trying to remove stigma by treating psychiatry like any other medical specialty. Or as the kids say ‘wait, what?’.

You’ve said you trusted your doctors, but – and I say this with great respect – if you trusted them, why couldn’t you challenge what they said/did/prescribed?

Courage is hard to muster when you’re being kicked.

I’ve looked up these various scales and surveys mentioned in the article and there’s no mention of anything like ‘if I disagree I feel safe asking about it, or sticking up for myself until I get an answer I’m happy with/understand/agree with’.

You’ve hit upon an important omission. I’d like to read more about this angle as well.

Additionally, Canada has a very bad history with using stun guns on persons with psycho-social disabilities and other unarmed citizens. We have been challenged by the UN Committee Against Torture and our internal courts to no avail.

People shouldn’t die because police in Canada do not know how to respond to persons experiencing crises.

Let us remember, and never forget, that this is the city were a Toronto City Councillor and brother of the Mayor of Toronto said when objecting to a halfway house for autistic teenagers: “my heart goes out but I didn’t think they’d be leaving the house”

The city that humanity forgot. Zero deaths? Uh huh. And I’d like a pony.

I am fed up to the teeth waiting quietly in a corner for someone to decide to recognize and allow me to realize my rights as a human.

The recent photo (not sure if links are allowed http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/633801.html) of protesters being tear gassed for wanting accessible transit is riveting. Why isn’t this happening more often? Why are parents picketing about the lack of educational supports? Why are pwd living in poverty and squalor demanding a livable income or god forbid – jobs?

The nearest thing I’ve seen to a protest is parents dropping off their adult children at government departments because they can no longer care for them.

I know it must be frustrating to have this convention and not be able to utilize it because you live in the USA.

You have included ‘provincial’ so I am going to assume you’re included Canada in your reply? In a number of provincial and territorial human rights are is the inclusion of international human rights instruments. So yes, right now, today, judges can refer to and use the CRPD in Canada. It is my hope that this becomes the case for all countries.

She was put in jail because she threw apples at a postal worker and had defiant behaviour and she wouldn’t stop or change.

A very important case that shows the dangers of a system that is out of touch, and out of time.

I would caution anyone from watching the videos. It’s hard. She had the sweetest little girl voice. I am deeply ashamed of what happened to her and all the others like her that have gone before, and since.